title: The hypocretins/orexins: integrators of multiple physiological functions.
abstract: The hypocretins (Hcrts), also known as orexins, are two peptides derived from a single precursor produced in the posterior lateral hypothalamus. Over the past decade, the orexin system has been associated with numerous physiological functions, including sleep/arousal, energy homeostasis, endocrine, visceral functions and pathological states, such as narcolepsy and drug abuse. Here, we review the discovery of Hcrt/orexins and their receptors and propose a hypothesis as to how the orexin system orchestrates these multifaceted physiological functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jingcheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Lecea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D012201:Reward; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins
keywords: addiction; anxiety; arousal; hypothalamus; narcolepsy; neuropeptide; sleep; stress